How do Adventists figure tithe?
Another thing SDAs have a real problem with is gross vs. net salary. If you really want to get the SDAs up in arms ask them whether tithe should be on gross or net earnings. There is no official answer to this question as far as I know. The layperson will say “net” — the pastor will say “gross.” But, and this is the neat part, ask the layperson if he thinks his pastor pays tithe on his gross. The truth is, no way Hosay! Ninety-nine point ninety-nine per cent of SDA pastors pay tithe on their net — they’re careful to deduct their home office expenses, their automobile mileage allowance, the parsonage allowance, and every other “allowance” they can dream up to keep that tithe figure low. Now, if the SDA pastor is too good at finding “allowances,” the Conference Treasurer will have a little talk with him and suggest he pay a bit more tithe to keep everyone happy — and if he doesn’t, well, it’s sayonara!
