Quote Originally Posted by 00CIVICSI
"used/mis-used by both regularly"

Almost all church are require to keep records and turn any spending into there state office! In my church every penny is accounted for, Every. Any member can at anytime can ask for those records. Its not like you pay to got to church. They dont blow or mis use it. It goes to charity as well as local situation, like injurys or accidents/illness/ needy folks etc. Like when my wife dislocaled her knee, i dont have ins. so the church agreed together to pay a $2300 bill. Same when my boy got into a motorcycle wreck. Its dumb how people get these image's of preacher rollin in money. Most pastor's have 2 jobs! Unless its a big big church!
What I meant by "mis used" is primarily that they misuse the concept in the way they present it from a Bible standpoint. But make no mistake, many churches mis use the funds too. Your concept of their accountability is not correct in general although perhaps your church MAY be above board. And if they used any tithe funds to pay your bills they DID mis use it unless you are their pastor.