LearnGospelMusic.com Community
Main => Ministry, M.O.M, Praise Teams and Choirs => Topic started by: karlmhoon on January 23, 2008, 11:06:36 AM
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Do You Think that choir members should paid choir dues?
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Yes, within reasonable means.
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Yes.
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No, I think that the church should be on a unified budget and get their financial support from the church budget and not by dues when half the people don't pay dues. If the choir has an anniversary then the income would go to the income bracket of the church budget, NOT a personal account.
Does anybody see what I'm saying?
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Not just for the heck of it.
I think that if a church choir has financial needs that the church's budget cannot meet, then the members might be assessed dues.
But, if they're just charging dues because they "can" or because they think choirs are supposed to charge dues, I have a problem with that.
Most choir directors I talk to have a problem collecting dues, so I always wonder whether this is effective. One of the community choirs here charges $25/month for dues!!!!! That's ridiculous! And then, dude has the nerve to take up offerings during rehearsal sometimes.
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No, I think that the church should be on a unified budget and get their financial support from the church budget and not by dues when half the people don't pay dues. If the choir has an anniversary then the income would go to the income bracket of the church budget, NOT a personal account.
Does anybody see what I'm saying?
NO
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Yes, within reasonable means.
what do you mean Brother
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Not just for the heck of it.
I think that if a church choir has financial needs that the church's budget cannot meet, then the members might be assessed dues.
But, if they're just charging dues because they "can" or because they think choirs are supposed to charge dues, I have a problem with that.
Most choir directors I talk to have a problem collecting dues, so I always wonder whether this is effective. One of the community choirs here charges $25/month for dues!!!!! That's ridiculous! And then, dude has the nerve to take up offerings during rehearsal sometimes.
these dues are for choirs, things for the music dept., and 4 pastor and wife anniversary. but we only collect 5.00 a month and 1.00 for the bus ministery, and a free will offering is this too much? this with the 25.00 a month is good.
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NO
ok, what I mean is pretty much what LaRue is saying, if the church budget can't meet the financial needs of the choir then take up dues, but if a budget can support the choir, then there is no need for dues.
Now do you see what I'm saying?
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these dues are for choirs, things for the music dept., and 4 pastor and wife anniversary. but we only collect 5.00 a month and 1.00 for the bus ministery, and a free will offering is this too much? this with the 25.00 a month is good.
Naw, personally, I'm just not into the dues thing. What I personally prefer is to give an assessment per event. For example, if we're buying a gift for a Pastoral anniversary, I would just tell them that we need each choir member to contribute $10 (or whatever the amount) by such-and-such date.
To answer your question, YES, it is too much to charge dues, and a bus "tax" and raise an offering, IMO. I am sooooo opposed to charging a fee AND lifting an offering. That just doesn't sit well with me, and I'm willing to bet it doesn't go over very well with your members. They may not tell you, but I bet if an outside consultant came in and polled them anonymously, they would admit that they don't dig that.
I've been in church my whole life (in the choir) and I've never had a choir that charged us dues.
In life, the average adult is faced with frequent and consistent financial responsibilities. Some are planned and budgeted for, and some are not. I think the last thing a person needs is another financial obligation to add to the list, whether it's a dollar a month or ten. But, that's just me.
Keep in mind that I'm not currently a choir director, so you can take what I say with a grain of salt.
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I don't get it. I am a musician. Usually (not always) I get paid. Why should choir members pay to be of service?
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I don't get it. I am a musician. Usually (not always) I get paid. Why should choir members pay to be of service?
COSIGN.
When you say dues, it makes it seem like you are paying to be in the choir or (whatever ministry has "dues"). My church, it's offering, we pass a basket at the end of rehersal during announcements, if you have something to give, cool, if you don't cool, no pressure, because the work of the Lord will go on.
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At my church, we don't do any of that. WE take ONE offering on sunday, period. IF there is an event (i.e singles, womens/men's fellowship etc) outside the church like at a hotel, then we set an amt. But my Pastor was ordered to STOP completely all dues, chicken/chittlin dinners etc when he was called to start our church.
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At my church, we don't do any of that. WE take ONE offering on sunday, period. IF there is an event (i.e singles, womens/men's fellowship etc) outside the church like at a hotel, then we set an amt. But my Pastor was ordered to STOP completely all dues, chicken/chittlin dinners etc when he was called to start our church.
We really don't do this, and from my understading never have (i've only been there 7 years).
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No, I think that the church should be on a unified budget and get their financial support from the church budget and not by dues when half the people don't pay dues. If the choir has an anniversary then the income would go to the income bracket of the church budget, NOT a personal account.
Does anybody see what I'm saying?
I feel you on the unified budget. It makes things much easier and that is what tithes and offerings are for. If extra money is needed then maybe choir members can make donations and do fund raisers.
Also this would raise new questions. Are people that are apart of multiple choirs required to pay dues for each choir? What about the musicians that play for multiple choirs? I'm not totally against it in every situation, just most.
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I feel that collecting dues are not out of order. When the choir has it's own money to make the purchases that it needs(sheet music,cd's, printing,ect) there is less confusion as oppossed to having to contact trustees, wait for approval, then wait for the check. :D :D
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I had to pull this back up because I just got a request from our MOM to start assessing the choir $20/mo. in dues. My initial reaction was negative, but I couldn't remember what my previously stated opinion on the subject was, so I did a search to find this thread.
I especially like Steelpulz's point.
My opinion is the same. I just can't get with dues. I guess I'll ask him what they will be used for.
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I had to pull this back up because I just got a request from our MOM to start assessing the choir $20/mo. in dues. My initial reaction was negative, but I couldn't remember what my previously stated opinion on the subject was, so I did a search to find this thread.
I especially like Steelpulz's point.
My opinion is the same. I just can't get with dues. I guess I'll ask him what they will be used for.
ok so what would you use the 20.00 dues for???
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ok so what would you use the 20.00 dues for???
Huh?
I just said I don't agree with dues. I can't answer what I would do with $20 dues because I wouldn't assess dues.
If you meant to ask what the choir director wants to do with the $20 dues, my answer is that I have no idea because he never answered my question. I think that if you want robes, don't collect dues, just make people buy their own robes. If you are taking a trip, have people chip in to pay for the gas or whatever.
I just don't understand where it goes. What do you need $20x20 people each month for??? $400 a month? For what? Where does it go? Maybe they want to have a workshop or something? I'm just not clear on that part. Where is the money going to go?
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Huh?
I just said I don't agree with dues. I can't answer what I would do with $20 dues because I wouldn't assess dues.
If you meant to ask what the choir director wants to do with the $20 dues, my answer is that I have no idea because he never answered my question. I think that if you want robes, don't collect dues, just make people buy their own robes. If you are taking a trip, have people chip in to pay for the gas or whatever.
I just don't understand where it goes. What do you need $20x20 people each month for??? $400 a month? For what? Where does it go? Maybe they want to have a workshop or something? I'm just not clear on that part. Where is the money going to go?
So, you wouldn't have a problem with it as long as you know where the money is going?
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I would say to use it for outtings, fixing up, and for broken instr.
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So, you wouldn't have a problem with it as long as you know where the money is going?
No, I still have a problem with it. Well actually, I don't have a "problem" with it (semantics?). I just don't really like it. I'm not a fan of dues. Like, if I were in the choir (and I am) and he said from now on, we're assessing dues of $20/month, I would pay them faithfully. BUT... I wouldn't like it at all. It definitely wouldn't be cheerful giving. LOL! Plus, I think $20 is a lot of money for dues. But like I told him, "that's just me." (His response was "yep, that's just YOU lol")
I guess I'll ask him what they will be used for.
He just replied to my inquiry. His response:
and to answer your question about dues. the dues will help cover the care of the music ministry. it will be of help where needed, i.e., gas for engagements, music, cd's, materials for the choir, etc.... eventually, we are going to saving up for robes.
I told him that that's his decision to make. A lot of times people come to me for permission or advice concerning areas that are not within my authority, so I like to make it clear that I don't have authority to make this decision, I can just tell you my opinion on it. I reiterated my opinion and said "but that's just me."
I didn't say this part to him, but: I think that gas for engagements should be paid by those riding the van. I don't ride vans, so I don't want to chip in for gas for it, meanwhile still having to gas up my own car. Plus, thus far all our engagements have been local or relatively close so that this is moot for now.
Music - $400/month? That's a lotta music, buddy... lol.
Materials for the choir - I don't know what that means, other than music.
Saving up for robes - Everyone should/can buy their own robes.
That's just the way I see it. But I dare not make a fuss about it because I don't like causing other leaders any headache, since I appreciate it when they don't cause me any headaches.
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I can see not wanting to pay dues. It's like saying, 'Hey, you wanna sing with us? Ya gotta pay us.' ?/? :-\
At the same time, I can see collecting dues if:
1. The pastor is fully aware of the situation and has someone outside of the music ministry checking the books.
2. The music ministry wants to do something and not drain the church's finances (e.g. have Fred Hammond come and do a concert; have someone host a music workshop).
BTJM.
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I can see not wanting to pay dues. It's like saying, 'Hey, you wanna sing with us? Ya gotta pay us.' ?/? :-\
At the same time, I can see collecting dues if:
1. The pastor is fully aware of the situation and has someone outside of the music ministry checking the books.
2. The music ministry wants to do something and not drain the church's finances (e.g. have Fred Hammond come and do a concert; have someone host a music workshop).
BTJM.
Yeah, that part in bold is my primary issue.
But yeah, the Pastor would have to approve dues (and I'm not sure he will; he and I have never broached that subject, so I don't know where he stands on the matter). As for the books, it is unlawful for churches to operate auxiliary accounts, so all intake would have to go into the "main" account and be recorded in the main record book. My church is small, so there are 3 people in the choir who also serve in Finance. It will be very easy to oversee that part...
*sigh* One more bill... ::)
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I do not like the paying of dues either. I'm the minister of music for 5 choirs and they expect me to pay for 4 out of the 5: the mass choir, the senior choir, the youth choir and the men's chorus. The inspirational choir is the only one that doesn't collect dues and I like it that way. I serve in a small, rural church and this supplements my income as a substitute teacher. There are times when I just do have gas to make it to rehearsal, back home and to church on Sunday before I get my check from playing. The secretary who collects the dues looks at people who can't pay as if they just robbed somebody! She's constantly trying to find fault with the young adults who have young families who don't pay their dues. She's quick to say, "If it wasn't for the seniors, the choirs wouldn't have any money." You might be asking, "What is the money used for?", that's a good question, because they don't reimburse me for ANY of my personal expenses for the choirs: cds,ink cartridges, sheet music, music ministry books. I have even stopped remitting my receipts to the church for reimbursement because I've just gotten apathetic about it. Sorry to rant, but I don't like the dues either.
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all said well
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We have 4 choirs at my church. This is what I gather from what I've seen (I'm usually not paying attention nor in the sanctuary when they have a meeting before rehearsal)
Senior choir, I believe they give whatever they can. I've seen them use the money for various things the last thing they gave was to a family to help with funeral costs.....
Youth choir, I've never seen them collect money
Men choir, I just learned last night that they have a $2 monthly per member due. If you cannot afford $2 a month to put in your choirs' account or you're tripping about that not sure what to say.....
Inspirational Choir, same deal as senior choir, give what you want or whatever you feel you can.
Each choir has their elected officers including a treasurer that documents everything that's been given and what not.
Some may say it is non sense and whatever a choir member needs they can buy themselves, essentially isn't that the same thing as paying a due? Yes it is.....