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Quiet Wyatt, you are just a controlling, nitpicking, petty, critical person who has some spiritual issue that you haven't dealt with. You must be because I know someone who asked this same thing who was just a divisive troublemaker.

I think there have been real strides toward transparency and I applaud that. However, I think the COG still has small-minded thinking that stems from way back. There is fear that people will be resentful if they know the truth. I can remember many years ago, a friend of mine (pastor) desperately wanted to buy a new vehicle but he was afraid of what the congregation might think of him. So he always lived way below his means for fear of openly displaying what he could afford. I remember the first time I ever became a staff member at a larger church. The pastor's salary was six figures, and published for all the world to see. No one thought twice about it. There were no calls for salary reduction or trimming the fat . Fear keeps us in the shadows. Jesus made a statement that has always stayed in my heart - I spoke openly to the world.....in secret I have said nothing (condensed from John 18:20

I think you hit it out of the park. Very well stated.I have known very good pastors who thought exactly as your friend. That said, I agree with the part of your comment about being small minded. Actually it shows very little trust in the church laity. I think it is good that ministers holding credentials can access some financial info, I could care less for my self, but I know many members who are interested and could handle the financial report without getting hysterical. Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

A. Too many eyes on finances would bring many more questionsB. They don't want to have to answer questions.C. They don't want their deeds scrutinized.

I like this Quote ;

I think that the sometimes tendency of small, local churches to be hesitant about sharing their financials is writ-large at the denominational level.Pastors may feel a bit awkward with people knowing how much (or little) they are paid. They may know that Bro. So-and-So will surely question every expenditure, wondering why we are spending money for Youth Camp when their are people dying in Africa, etc. Some churches have a thing like this: If you would like to see our financials, let us know and we'll show you. Of course, that ensures that plenty of people don't do it. Why? Because they think they'll appear as distrusting of the leadership, when, really, they just want to know how we're doing, what we're doing, etc.Very simply, I don't think the lack of full transparency is due to ill intentions, but to the concern that criticism will begin over this or that. Why did it cost the executives so much money to go to the General Assembly? It shouldn't cost a dime more than it costs those staying at Motel 6.With so many struggling churches, why can't our executives take a big pay cut and help them out?On and on it will go. Some lines will draw applause from those who do not fully grasp matters. Other criticisms may be valid (and this, too, can be a concern with leadership--they sometimes know that this or that didn't work out as planned, and that, if revealed, it will reflect poorly upon them).

Perhaps if people knew there would be a possibility that questions would be raised, less money would be spent frivolously. Perhaps if people knew there was a possibility that spending would be scrutinized, less money would be spent frivolously.