Why Church wants condolence money

What you need to know:

All churches are not well-resourced to give back to society. I know of many churches that even fail to raise a reasonable allowance to their clergy

Reference is made to the fuss about the recently released circular by Namirembe Diocese authored by the diocesan secretary directing all churches in the diocese to comply with the stated percentage allocations of the condolence collections during funeral services(25 per cent to be retained at church and 75 per cent to be given to the bereaved family).

As the church, there are expenses incurred during funeral services that the public should know about. For example, many of the organists in the Anglican churches perform at a fee, churches pay for electricity and generator fuel, churches pay for security, churches need to be cleaned and maintained. Sometimes, if it is not a normal service day, choir members, especially those that play instruments, are facilitated. The rationale is to cater for such expenses.

All churches are not well-resourced to give back to society. I know of many churches that even fail to raise a reasonable allowance to their clergy. I have mobilised resources in church and I know how huge the task is. Some Christians just come to church for prayer and leave and they never get to know how the church building is maintained and how bills are sorted. Churches spend and they can only spend what you have been given. We do not have any donor support. My prayer is that Christians continue to get closer to their God, go to church and build the Church.