Polycarp,

It was predictable that some people would dislike my cinema analogy, but to characterise it as absurd seems over the top.

As a non-believer (you guessed that, right?), I see both the cinema and the church as service providers. Even if you don't have a priest (however described) at a service, you're still being provided with the church building itself.

What is it about your activity in the church that gives it a special status, and entitles the church to relief from an obligation to pay council rates that almost everyone else has to pay?

To the extent that your donations are used to provide the church and, on occasion, a priest, why should your donations not be subject to GST? Why should you get your desired service at a discount compared with what I have to pay for a service with a comparable underlying cost?

Note that I'm not saying that all donations should be taxed. Only that part of the donations that is being used to provide you with the service.

"It doesn't matter RobP how much 'income' World vision receives.. it's all donations and a few more zero's than smaller groups but it doesn't take any more skill to administer a figure with an extra decimal point ...does it?"

Polycarp,

Morally and ethically speaking, you're probably right. Whether he merits getting that wage, by way of how he brings his talent to bear in the job, you'd have to be an insider to know for sure. I'm not an WV insider so I don't know. But if he's anything like his brother ....

Pollypants

<<People "buy" a ticket to see a professionally produced product.. the show..at church we often participate ourselves.. we don't even have a pastor at the moment..we all share the load...for free....>>

Well exactly. Fancy asking anyone to pay to hear you 'share the load'. Even for free I can't imagine value for money.

Have you thought of paying the congregation to attend?

Most of you guys can't see the link between tax breaks and organised crime. Due to the single mindedness of many here I guess I have to explain that I don't mean current churches are organised crime. I mean if you make them not having to pay taxes organised crime WILL dump their finances into 'churches'. Most people that come within coooeee of the rich list will do the same, as will businesses, you'd be dumb not to as well.

If you wanna see the 'second coming' within 1 year.....make churches tax free. ;o)

Sylvia said:

"Note that I'm not saying that all donations should be taxed. Only that part of the donations that is being used to provide you with the service."

yes Sylv..I can imagine the headache of you trying to work that out for each "donation" which is anonymous anyway. The portion which provides a salary to a pastor IS taxed....it's called income tax.
We don't "pay for a service" we join together in fellowship with each other. Should I charge GST for every loving hug I receive.. should I be charged when I give one? Do we tax a smile? If someone shares a word of encouragement or sympathy with us.... do we tax this?
If the pastor preaches a 'red hot' sermon.. do we tax that? but if he preaches a lousy one.. no tax.. because we didn't receive 'value for money'? this is all so rediculous it is a joke.

Clearly.. you are in dire need of discovering what it means to be a Christian and to enjoy the life of a local Church... I suggest you read about it in the New Testament.

We do not give our money as donations in order to receive a service i.e. a sermon.. we do it as a total part of 'being' a fellowship.. and some of our money goes to such things as aids orphan support in Africa. Yeah.. lets tax that too.... and then there is the 'casserole bank' for needy families.. yep...let's tax that too.

On the RATES issue.. ANY community based organization is eligable to apply for rates excemption..and that would include the Lions and Apex etc. When was the last time Apex built a local church as a 'community' service? (I'm not saying they haven't)

Porkycrap: << When was the last time Apex built a local church as a 'community' service? >>

What Porky and his fundy mates don't seem to realise is that building a church or speading God's word is only construed as a 'community' service by members of the Christian community. Service organisations like Apex et al aren't in the business of disseminating propaganda, which is what Christian preaching and proselytising amount to - on the contrary, they do practical things for the benefit of the entire community.