Quote
John_C said:
Since this is the first church I belong that uses Faith Promises, our method of doing Faith Promise may differ from other Faith Promises' models in other churches.

The church budgets benovolences, not missions money in its budget. Benovolence include Christian schools, seminaries, camps, pregnancy centers, homeless shelters, etc; but not to missionaries nor mission agencies. The church Mission committee will submit to the Session for their approval a list of missionaries and mission agencies to be supported by the church. Bottom line is that if the money comes in (designated as Faith Promise); everyone will receive their full support; if not then the Mission Committee will divvy up between the missionaries and missions. I think we designate Faith Promise, not to a particular missionary or agency on the approved list. AT least that is how I've done it.

So that is why it is called Faith Promise - it is a promise on faith as oppose to a more systematic way. I just see it as competing forces with the church budget; though basically they are the same.

Hi John,

Maybe it's because I'm tired tonight, but your explanation is a little confusing. So does the money marked as Faith Promise go to the benevolences or to the missions? Who is the "everyone" in "everyone will receive their full support"? I just want to clarify that the Faith Promise is a system within the church and not an external organization. Is this correct? Also, from your remarks, it seems that other churches may use this system too. If that is the case, do you know anything about the origins of the system?

Thanks,
John