The Ballestero Blog

We Failed The Pentecostal Credit Report

(Imagine what it would be like if you had to pass a “Pentecostal Tithes Credit Report” to Join or Transfer to another church.)

“Harold! We’ve just been denied membership into the First Pentecostal Church,” Maggie said as she set her bags of groceries on the counter..

“Denied? How can they do that? Why would they do that?”

Maggie turned and faced her husband.

“Well, when we filled out the Application for Membership, we had to grant them permission to do a Credit Check on us and…”

“Oh, that still sticks in my craw that they would require us to do that. This is not how they use to do it!” exclaimed Harold.

“Anyway,” Maggie continued, we were denied membership. I asked the Church Secretary to give me a reason why. Maybe there are laws or something, you know, against them doing that.”

“What did she say?”

“The way she explained it was, if we bought a car, or bought a house, bought a cell phone, or even rented an apartment we would be subject to a credit check.

“She said people are turned down all the time because the seller or the landlord sees you have a poor or late record of payment. They become leery of selling or renting to you.”

“Well, what on earth does that have to do with us and the Church?” Harold wanted to know.

“Everything.” She said.

“Back in 2011 when we transferred to another Church, we didn’t have that problem, why now?”

“The Secretary said that lately, all Pentecostal Churches have been doing a Credit Check of a different sort. Every Monday, all Church Secretaries have to send in a report.  All those that pay tithes are given a good rating and those that don’t are given a bad rating. Those that miss giving their tithes regularly are viewed as unacceptable members. They are ‘non-contributors’ she said. They are not viewed as a desirable transfer.

“Now days Pastors review prospective transfers and they request a report on each one. That is part of what they base their decision on.

“We haven’t been faithful our tithes in the past, so they would prefer if we go somewhere else. We failed the Pentecostal Credit Report.”