Selling Girl Scout Cookies at Church

[jalapeno_pretzel]

You make a well articulated argument and I was starting to agree with you but then I thought about do-si-dos.

Seriously, they are hard to resist. And palm oil is in so many things. But my scout and I feel like we have to not support stuff like this. We are advocating for ingredient changes though. There are cookies out there that do not contain palm oil. Scouts and consumers deserve better than this.

https://news.mongabay.com/2019/09/a...crisis-as-parents-fear-for-their-kids-health/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...ave-ravaged-acres-palm-oil-farmers-are-blame/

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/25/world/asia/indonesia-red-sky-fires.html

 

[superme80]

It would be a no from me. I do not support outside organizations soliciting to church members.

 

[tinatark]

I was in scouts 12 years. Earned Gold Award.

I work at our church.

We do not allow outside organizations to sell to our members after services. We have several church groups that need to raise funds for their own activities.

Opening up after church sales to one group sets a precedence that if we do for one, we'll have to do for others- Boy Scout popcorn, VFW poppies, etc.etc.

If individual scouts who are members of the church sell to their church friends, that's fine.

This.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Opening up after church sales to one group sets a precedence that if we do for one, we'll have to do for others- Boy Scout popcorn, VFW poppies, etc.etc.

The conclusion I've come to after thinking about this for several hours, was that this isn't the same as the moneychangers cheating the poor, but if we do allow them to do this, we have to have a clear, concise policy on who else we let sell stuff, so it doesn't turn into a free-for-all or we end up with hurt feelings.

It should be noted that I don't make this decision. I was just one person being asked about it by our Trustees (facilities) Committee chairperson.

 

[ronandannette]

The conclusion I've come to after thinking about this for several hours, was that this isn't the same as the moneychangers cheating the poor, but if we do allow them to do this, we have to have a clear, concise policy on who else we let sell stuff, so it doesn't turn into a free-for-all or we end up with hurt feelings.

It should be noted that I don't make this decision. I was just one person being asked about it by our Trustees (facilities) Committee chairperson.

Yes, this is much more a policies-and-procedures issue than a doctrinal one.

 

[Pooh2]

We've gone to the same Catholic church for 25 years.
The boys scouts and girls scouts both sell their goodies out on the porch after Mass during their season.
No objections here!
Looking forward to Samoas!

 

[Hikergirl]

I personally would not have done that with my troop way back when.
I don't object to it, I just wouldn't feel right doing it there.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Ok, here's the situation:

Our Christian church allows a Girl Scoit troop use our Fellowship Hall for their meetings once a week. I do not know if we charge them rent (probably not since they are a 501(c)(4)?). This troop is in no way officially affiliated with the church. They just use our facilities.


The troop asked the committee chair that deals with the facility if they could set up a table to sell cookies on a Sunday. I assume after service, but I need clarification.

As either a Girl Scout or someone who goes to church, what's your opinion on seeing this? I mean, there's the whole "Jesus flipping tables" business, but like...this is Girl Scouts, ya know?

My daughter would sell cookies at church. That is, she would take her order form and approach people and ask if they wanted to order cookies. When the cookies came in, we bagged them up, and gave them to the people who ordered them. We always had extras in the trunk of the car, if someone would ask if there were more available.

We were members of the church, and regular attendees at services. We did not set up a selling booth. We were only selling to friends. Much like selling to the neighbors.

I think an independent troop (not affiliated with the church) should not set up a booth at a church.

 

[OhhBother]

No way would I be in favor of it. Chances are there are people in the congregation with scouts in their families. Do they all get to set up tables? What about the band members selling oranges, the fifth graders selling wrapping paper, the Rotary Club selling pancake breakfast tickets...? Slippery slope for any business or establishment, including churches.

 

[SteveH]

My defining line isn't about it being Girl or Boy Scouts, etc. It's if the proceeds are benefiting the individual or a group/cause. If it is benefiting a group or cause, I'd be fine with it, but for the individual no. So a group raising money for a mission trip sure, raising money so a child can earn points, get free 'stuff" or go to camp would be a no. But it's not up to me so I really have no vested interest.

 

[Skippy918]

This is what our council rules are with respect to church selling.

“ If a booth is set up within an organization (social club, church, etc.),
all Girl Scouts who are members of that organization should be
invited to participate in that booth. These booths are not as high
volume as normal commercial booths, so they do not need to be ◊ opened up to the entire service unit.”

 

[cedricandsophie]

At our church Boy Scouts sell popcorn, Girl Scouts sell cookies, and the K of C snd st Vincent de Paul sell tickets for a variety of things.

 

[fly girl]

So interesting to read both sides of the issue.

Personally, I see no issue with it if the church allows it. No one is forcing you to buy.

I don't think I have ever seen Girl Scout cookies sold after mass, even though our Catholic Church has a school attached (that my daughter attends) and we do have GS troops. The GS cookies are always sold during basketball games outside of the gym doors by the admission desk. They do have stuff after mass (I know fresh made donuts for sure) but I believe those directly help the church, school, or scholarships for students.

 

[mousefan73]

threads like this make me happy I am Agnostic..

btw. I sold Girls Scout cookies, alone, door2door, in Feb, sub-zero temps and 2 feet of snow... I even went into peoples entry ways to warm up while they filled up the form ( with a pencil as we were told pen ink would freeze).. Oh. the 80s.

 

[wgeo]

We don't have a troop that meets at our church, but we have girls that are in a few different troops. Those girls set up a table every year after the services. Church members always start asking - is it cookie time yet? They appreciate buying from someone they at least kind of know. I've never heard anyone say anything against it.

We do have a boy scout troop that meets at our church, but none of the boys in our church are members. One kid wanted to build something on church grounds for his Eagle Scout project (something that would benefit the church) and he did come into the church and ask for donations for the lumber.

 

[DisneyOma]

Is having Girl Scouts selling cookies on church property after worship counter to Matthew 21:12-17?

Unless your church follows every single rule listed in the bible, not sure what this has to do about it?

 

[MrsDuck]

I'd be excited to have easy access to cookies.

 

[SharonZ]

I don't have a problem of them selling, I just wouldn't be buying.

 

[ronandannette]

Unless your church follows every single rule listed in the bible, not sure what this has to do about it?

It’s a moot point - that teaching is about abuse of authority, corruption and exploitation of the poor, NOT about whether commerce can be conducted on church property.

 

[Searc]

threads like this make me happy I am Agnostic..

btw. I sold Girls Scout cookies, alone, door2door, in Feb, sub-zero temps and 2 feet of snow... I even went into peoples entry ways to warm up while they filled up the form ( with a pencil as we were told pen ink would freeze).. Oh. the 80s.

For troops around here, everything is done online now and you have to practically promise your first born child to the Girl Scouts before they'll let you order the damn cookies. "It's all about safety for the girls." Bull crap. How else would people know to type in a very specific link given to you by the Girl Scout for the express purpose of ordering cookies? The only people trying to order cookies are the ones given the link! It has really put us off from ordering cookies in the future.

Anything booths are selling here are leftovers or extras.

No, I would not be in favor of any outside group selling in our church. Luckily, our Church Council only allows church groups to sell before/after service, not outside groups.