Money is a touchy topic. I remember feeling really uncomfortable towards the end of graduate school when a classmate of mine would openly ask recently hired employees of various chemical companies what their starting salaries were. I understand his interest for I too wanted to know what I could possibly expect in terms of income upon graduating, but it was just uncomfortable because money and income are culturally understood as taboo subjects. We place both our money and spending into our private sphere.

For the LDS, one place that can take the details of income out of concealment is church. Members of the LDS church, like other Christian denominations, are strongly encouraged to pay 10% of their income to the church as part of their religious devotion. In order to be considered a member in good standing and to gain access to the temple, the holiest place in the LDS faith, members must declare to their local ecclesiastical leaders that they are indeed full tithe payers.  This is done somewhat informally whenever a temple recommend is renewed as well as formally at the end of the year during annual tithing settlement.

An annual tithing settlement was instituted during the 19th century when many, if not most members lived an agrarian lifestyle and it did not make sense for all members to declare tithing until the harvest had been collected and accounted for. The tradition of annual accounting holds strong today and for many it is an occasion to reaffirm their obedience to the commandment by reviewing their own income records against records of tithing donations to ensure that they are indeed fully compliant with the law of tithing.

tithe3

One important detail from the recent newsroom article, which announced the approval of online donation payments, is the statement that tithing and other donations are “paid on the honor system. No one asks to see income statements or pay slips.” This statement is true in the sense that bishops and clerks do not request proof of income to determine whether a member is paying a “true” full tithe. The problem though is that privacy or confidentiality of donations is not a reality. The donations of members are trusted to be held in the confidence of the bishopric and ward financial clerks, without any sharing of income information (which is easily deduced on the basis of the tithing donation amounts) to other ward members. The information of how much a member donates can be sensitive and unfortunately the amount of member donations is not always kept in confidence, nor is it always respected as sensitive information.

Anecdotal reports, such as how my bishop told my then newly-wed wife and me that we “ought to teach a class on finance” (presumably because of our survival on low income at the time), serve as evidence that some in leadership positions do not show the same level of respect and sensitivity to members personal finances as they probably should. Another anecdote reported that a counselor passing out settlement statements in the hallway of a ward building jokingly informed a member that he did not approve of their income level indicating that they “make too much money.” Examples of this behavior showing a disregard for financial privacy are likely, in my opinion, few and far between. Though the embarrassment and discomfort of having ones financial information shared with neighbors should not occur through ecclesiastical channels ever, yet it does.

In discussing the issue of confidential donations online I have observed that many members, including myself until recently, are not aware of any option to make payments to the church directly without the local leaders receiving detailed reports of the donations.  Yet a few members have been informed through word of mouth that there are options available for such a payment plan (it is called a bill-pay plan). While looking through the screen shots of the upcoming online donation payment system I was not able to find any indication that a confidentiality option is available (one that allows a member to donate to the church directly but does not report donation details to the local leadership).

COBI contacted the Donations and Donations in-kind Department at church headquarters and asked about the new system and whether a confidential option will be available. I was told that the new online system will roll-out to different areas throughout the year and there is no plan to include a confidential option through the new online system.

I also learned that by calling the donation department (801 240 2554) or emailing them (donations@ldschurch.org) a member can make tithing and other donations through the “bill-pay” system which includes confidentiality as an elective. A recent SL Tribune article also raised the bill-pay option to public consciousness. My inquiry into confidentiality and reasons for being interested in confidentiality options was noted by the department representative and presumably passed on to superior department employees as important information.

If Elder Oaks is right and there really is not any form of aristocracy in the church1 that has access to more information, more power, or more options, then knowledge of the bill-pay option with confidentiality should be made widely available to all members (not just those who know the right people). Perhaps even part of the annual tithing settlement could include instruction in the various ways a member can make donations. In the age of the internet and information technology advances I don’t see it as a stretch for this world wide church to simply provide a confidentiality check box in the online donation form for members to take advantage of, should they feel inclined to do so. For even according to the newsroom we are operating on the “honor system,” aren’t we?

Honor System

 

1. See section I of Oaks April 2014 address which implies a flat social structure in terms of privilege or honor.

Brian was born and raised in Northern Utah and is now working as a chemist in Ohio. He has one wife and three children. He currently serves as the ward hall monitor. He likes to eat good food, and build cool things.

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