That’s up to the individual ward or stake, but ours does, and did where I grew up as well. And every ward we have been in.

Well, I think that it is crazy how much the church charges for garments, and temple clothing….way more than I spend on underwear. Not to mention how much a quad or song book costs.

Also, not every ward pays for the scout/ cub registration.

It’s interesting that you all seem to see no problem with a church operating like a large business.

What I actually said is that I’d like for you to explain what you mean by “operating like a large business.” How does a large business operate, what particular characteristics of such operation do you claim the Church shares, and what is wrong with them?

I would have thought that one could expect a church to be run differently than a private corporation.

In what ways? And for what reasons?

And I have locally seen how the church takes care of those in need too. I know this is only a drop in the bucket.

Donating? I don’t see it that way when I personally get more than I actually pay.

I guess that’s what the fundamental disagreement must be.

I would have thought that one could expect a church to be run differently than a private corporation.

Once again, it is your money being used and not mine. I guess I’m just a bit more curious when it comes to how people spend money I donate.

I have nothing to hide but I am not about to share my financial stats with you. I don’t need to know all the financial stats of other churches or private companies. Not sure why you feel the need to know them. But if it’s important to you….

You’ve mentioned that the Church keeps open records in the UK, according to law. So surely you’ve found some amazingly juicy tidbits in the information you’ve researched there, right?

If, following your standard, everyone who doesn’t keep his books open to the public must therefore be up to mischief, then why aren’t you publishing your own financial records for the world to see?

I tend to speculate that they operate more akin to a large private corporation, both in the level of secrecy regarding their books and in the way they acquire assets and in the way that they protect their bottom line.

Are you going to identify what is wrong with operating like a large private corporation? Are large, private corporations, by definition, sinister for some reason?

And if what you’ve been doing all along is pure speculation then may I recommend you refrain from such audacious claims as you’ve made above without identifying them as such? When you state them as facts, what they really become is lies, not just conjectures.

Yes, actually. Many churches do.
If they have nothing to hide or be embarrassed about, then there’s no problem.