Redeemer Presbyterian Church Treasurer
c/o 115 W Lakeview Blvd.
Erie PA 16508-3122

“Redeemer Presbyterian Church”

• Why Do We Pass an Offering Plate During the Service? Isn’t that Outdated?
  
  
• For What Are Financial Offerings Used?
  
  
• How Is Financial Transparency Maintained?
  
  
• Are Members and Regular Attenders Obligated to Give? How Much Should I Give?
  
  

We recognize that many local churches no longer receive an offering by plate/basket during the worship service. Redeemer Presbyterian Church continues to regard the collection of an offering as an important liturgical element in worship.

We believe that how we worship—the motions that we go through and the words that we say—shape our thoughts and beliefs in important ways. We wish to be shaped in worship by practices rooted in the Bible.

In the Old Testament, the ancient Israelites are commanded to “not appear before the LORD empty-handed,” and to “give each one as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that He has given you” (Deuteronomy 16:16-17). Similarly, the New Testament describes early Christian communities as gathering for Eucharistic meals, which were shared between the rich and the poor (1 Corinthians 11:17-34). Early Christian documents confirm that the leftovers of these in-kind offerings of food were distributed to the needy in the community. ¹

One central purpose of both Old Testament and New Testament offerings was to have fellowship with God through eating a meal. In the Old Testament, this was a “peace/well-being offering.” In the New Testament, this is described as “fellowship” at “the table of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 10:14-22). When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist), the offering is considered an element of this portion of the service. In the Lord’s Supper: the bread and wine [grape juice], when consecrated by the minister, “are thus set apart from their ordinary use and put to holy use” (Westminster Confession of Faith 29:3 ²). What a privilege and a blessing! God has given us our life and provided for our physical needs—and additionally, He allows us to take something ordinary and “put it to holy use”: sacramental fellowship with Him (communion), and to be His instrument to care for the poor and spread the gospel message.

The offering is also a time when members can bring a musical offering of praise, followed typically by the congregation singing “The Doxology.” In this way, we lift up our whole hearts to the Lord, as indicated by our voices (praise) and our financial gifts (representing the work of our hands throughout the week).

We don’t celebrate a fellowship meal every Sunday (though we intend to celebrate the Eucharist whenever possible). Some Redeemer members bring financial offerings every week; others, monthly; still others, quarterly. Even so, the weekly practice of receiving some offerings, along with a song of praise to God, reminds us of our dependence upon God, and serves as a sign of our ongoing offering of our whole hearts and lives to Him, in thanksgiving and obedience.

Care for the needy was very important in the early church (Acts 4:32-37; Acts 6:1-7; 1 Timothy 5:3-16). Churches gave to support the full-time ministry of church leaders (1 Timothy 5:17-18), though they sometimes chose to forego this privilege (1 Corinthians 9:1-18; cf. Acts 18:3). In the Old Testament, the tithes and priestly portions of the offerings supported the Levites and the priests, who had no farmland but worked “full-time” in religious leadership (Numbers 18; Deuteronomy 18).

At Redeemer Presbyterian Church, the financial gifts and offerings are used for staff salaries, rent to our gracious host congregation (Weis Library United Methodist Church), support for our missionaries, local ministries and charities, emergency assistance, and expenses for communications (e.g., Bulletins, and the church website).

The budget is made and approved by the Session (Ruling Elders who are elected by the congregation). The budget is reported annually, including all staff salaries. The pastor never touches any money from the offerings. Sunday offerings are counted by two people, neither of whom is the Church Treasurer. Financial reports are given to Session (Ruling Elders) monthly, which are available to members upon request.

Even though, as a local church, Redeemer is an independent legal entity, the Presbytery (regional body of Elders and Pastors) ³ exercises moral and financial oversight, through the reporting of Session Minutes and ongoing accountability of Pastors and Elders.

God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-15). You will not be pressured to give to Redeemer. However, we believe that, if you give cheerfully to your local church—and to other charitable and evangelistic efforts—you will receive a blessing from God.

One-tenth of one’s income (“tithe”) has been a pattern since the days of Abraham (Genesis 14:20) and Moses (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:21). Some Christians are able and choose to give more than one-tenth; some give a smaller percentage. Some are students or retirees who do not have income, so they contribute to the life of the congregation in other ways.

We find ourselves in agreement with the statement of one of our fellow EPC congregations, North Point Presbyterian Church (Danvers, MA): “What Is Faithful Giving?” ⁴

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1 Jungmann, Josef A., S.J. The Early Liturgy: To the Time of Gregory the Great.. Translated by Francis A. Brunner, C.SS.R. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1959. Pp. 171–72.

2 https://epc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/WCF-Online-Version.pdf

3 https://www.epcalleghenies.org/

4 https://www.northpointepc.org/faithful-giving

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