Release the Mormon Church Financial Statements

[_Rambo]

My Grandpa mentioned the other day about how he would like to see a release of the church finances. I said yeah that would be interesting. My Grandpa then went on to say that other churches don't do it so I guess he can't expect the Mormon Church to do it. I said that I thought other churches do release their financial statements. I think I heard that from this board. Do other churches release their financial statements?
Thanks.

[_Drifting]

My Grandpa mentioned the other day about how he would like to see a release of the church finances. I said yeah that would be interesting. My Grandpa then went on to say that other churches don't do it so I guess he can't expect the Mormon Church to do it. I said that I thought other churches do release their financial statements. I think I heard that from this board. Do other churches release their financial statements?
Thanks.

The Church releases financial statements in the UK because it is required by law to do so. There are some other threads by me detailing some of the information from those statements.

[Guest]

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[_Jason Bourne]

Yes many other church's publish financials.



http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Thre ... ports.aspx

http://www.brentwoodbaptist.com/pdf/auditreport.pdf

http://www.chicagochurch.org/about-us/l ... /financial


There are many more. Most in fact do publish them. The LDS Church did too until 1959.

[_zeezrom]

Rambo,

Every church-going nevermo I ask has informed me they see their church's finances. One sits on a board that votes on how the funds are allocated.

by the way, are you still working out? I hope you listen to Lady Gaga while doing so. She is such a great motivator.

Zee.

[_Analytics]

I'd go so far as to say most churches disclose their finances, and all reputible ones do.

A good site to check out is the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability:

www.ecfa.org

About 1,600 evangelical churches are members of the ECFA. To be a member, you must have open finances. One of their standards states:

Every member shall provide a copy of its current financial statements upon written request and shall provide other disclosures as the law may require. The financial statements required to comply with Standard 3 must be disclosed under this standard.

A member must provide a report, upon written request, including financial information on any specific project for which it sought or is seeking gifts.

http://www.ecfa.org/Content/Comment5

The detailed explation of this standard says:

The standard states that “every member shall provide” its financial statements. A complete set of financial statements must be provided, including the auditor’s report, all financial statements, and notes to the financial statements. A management or comment letter is not included in the definition of financial statements.

Under this standard, a member organization has no authority to determine the parameters of meeting the requirement, with the exception of when the organization is subject to a harassment campaign, as later described. Compliance with this standard is a condition of continued ECFA membership in good standing.

The words “shall provide” clearly set forth the mandatory nature of this standard’s requirement. Its language is not permissive in scope and does not merely provide a “guide” for a form of public accountability. Rather, this standard requires the organization to provide its financial statements.

The use of the word “provide” in the drafting of the standard is intentional. The sense of the word is “to supply,” “to furnish,” or “to give.” Merely making a current financial report available for inspection at the organization’s headquarters or financial office is not sufficient. Restricting availability or charging a fee before providing a report discourages access. These restrictive practices are inconsistent with the standard’s underlying policy and philosophy.

[_zeezrom]

How about this:

If you were church shopping, would you pick one of the few that keeps its financial records closed to its membership and lay leadership?

[_DarkHelmet]

The church of scientology doesn't publish their finances, at least according to this article:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientolog ... 201998.ece

Many American churches freely show their hand when it comes to money, going so far as to publish detailed financial statements online.
The Church of Scientology does not.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

There still exists a level of paranoia ref the Church and its relationship with the Public. I just don't think It will release financial reports because it's too dependent on perception management.

If you think about it, the investment in downtown SLC will be a long-term albatross... So the Church just isn't going to open up with its finances. Just not gonna happen, brah.

- VRDRC

[_harmony]

If you think about it, the investment in downtown Salt Lake City will be a long-term albatross...

This cannot be true. We have been told over and over again that our leaders will never lead us... hmmmm... into bankruptcy? Of course they won't... they'll just keep hammering us for more tithing!