Why are churches non-profit (tax-exempt)?
537013
Separation of church and state.  In England, the ruling monarch is also the head of the Church of England.  Sometimes different religions fall in or out of fashion, and this meant that it could suddenly be a crime to belong to a particular religion.  Throughout European history, many countries had official religions that were either Catholic or Protestant (non-Catholic), which was really a problem for the Jews who until the creation of Isreal, never had a place where they could go and not have to worry about being outlawed at some point.  If you are going to be Protestant, it's also helpful if your particular brand of religion look and sound like all the others, which became a problem for the Quakers who didn't have services and churches that looked like all the other non-Catholic types.  It was assumed that since the business of churches is the business of salvation, by not taxing the churches, you could help ensure religious freedom because you couldn't shut them through economics.  The Church of Scientology had a problem because they didn't sound or look like any type of previous notion of a religion, yet they claimed to be a church and wanted the same tax exemptions that other religions enjoyed.
1050249
yes. churches are run like a business, and they have to be audited every year like any other company. they have to keep detailed books.
982230
I don't know which church told you that you were unimportant and a sinner because of your poverty, but neither my church (Lutheran) nor I say that!  I'm sorry you had that experience.  Those folks are not walking in the way of Christ; He told His disciples that the poor would be with us always.  And James says that God chose the poor to be rich in faith.\nAs to your question about why churches don't pay taxes...well, that's something I wonder myself.  I think we might be better off if we did, really.  And the overtaxation of the poor/middle class and the loan sharks...honey, the blame for that falls on our elected officials who live in the back pockets of corporations, giving them huge tax breaks and letting everyone else shoulder the burden...while they vote big pay raises for themselves! (Must be nice, huh?)\nAnd lastly:  welfare is not a sin!  We were poor when I was a kid, and if it hadn't been for food stamps, free lunches at school, and surplus government commodities, us kids would have starved!  And later, when my mom developed heart problems so she couldn't work and had to go on full AFDC, we were just thankful those services were there for us.  The only time welfare -might- be considered a sin would be if someone were just lazy and refused to work.  But I don't think that's you...believe me, I know how hard it is to find a job that will support a family, or to get affordable training to help get a better job.\nPlease don't let that church get you down.  I'll be praying for you, OK?
454534
Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars. Tax breaks and exempt status of churches and clergy is not a teaching of Christs. If you want to serve God pay your taxes you cheapskate. Go get a real job, one that is respectable, like a tax collecter or a ceo of Enron.
385943
Because members of a Church pay taxes and therefore by extension the Church also pays taxes. Churches don't pay taxes on income or property because they are religious organizations and if they can't influence the laws, or affect the laws in a proactive manner and support or oppose candidates they shouldn't be taxed. If they were to be taxed than a state religion would be appropriate and separation of church and state inappropriate. I hope this answers your question.
1026846
It is actually easier to start a "regular" business because there is less government oversight on it. Since there are many financial benefits to filing as a non-profit, it is harder to get that determination and to keep it.
209886
They're not - they just want to keep it out of politics.  AS IT SHOULD BE.  It's called separation of church and state, something a lot of conservatives need to look into these days.  Religion is an exclusionary business, and if you include it politics, you alienate a large number of people.
199776
No.  But you may think about registering as a church to avoid the taxes.
712106
Churches, whatever the denomination, need to stay out of secular business.  Churches need to stick to the nourishing and education of Christian people with God's Word.
915840
Excellent question...there should NOT be exemptions for these institutions...I agree, they should pay tax on real estate, that is for sure...and only bonefide charities should be tax exempt. Most churches seem intent on improving the minister's life style, not charity work. Perhaps it is time to eliminate all of the exemptions.
71117
NO 10% goes to the church, the government takes at least 15% depending on income bracket, not to mention state taxes if it applies in yours. Add that times how many people ore in this country legally and thats a whole lot of money for them to piss away and waste
1043310
Just because an organization is Non-profit doesn't mean they get everything for free. It just means they're not out to make a profit. They raise money for causes such as cancer research or other charitable endeavors. So where does this money come from? Donations and money collected for the sales of products or events. So the money from the "admission charges" would go towards whatever costs they incurred to do the event, and the rest would go to their cause.\n\nI hope that helps.
910398
Every Baptist church is a little different because they are congregational in their governments.  Each should have its own Constitution & Bylaws.  You'll have to check that document to see how the Finance Committee is set up in your church.
1078618
depends on the religion...some absolutely require tithes (like the mormons), for others it's completely voluntary.\n\nTithing is a way for a religious group to extract money from its followers to continue to run the organization and make it stronger.  It's a tax on belonging to that religious organization that requires it.  supposedly god doesn't need money, so why should "his" organization need it?  Why doesn't god just supply them with what they need?
43420
Private donations, and offerings from congregation. separation of church and state makes it, illegal for state local, or federal , governments to give financial aid
304547
"For profit" businesses actions focus on revenue generation. A non-profit organization is a business with a social objective. \n\nA president's job is to manage the non-profit and its budget relative to the cost of "doing business" (i.e., to accomplish its social objectives efficiently, and manage its funding).\n\nAlthough a non-profit doesn't "make money", a non-profit needs funds to operate; so one of your jobs is to acquire "revenues" from funding sources through grant proposals; and manage those funds "running the business".
184912
A non-profit and not-for-profit organization are the same.