Selling Girl Scout Cookies at Church

[ronandannette]

So, does it follow that all other teachings from the bible are also adhered to? There's a lot of stuff in the bible that isn't followed, including keeping women having their periods away from everyone else. Or does each church pick and choose what to follow? That would be the question I'd ask the board when deciding this issue.

Context is everything.

 

[dish rag]

So, does it follow that all other teachings from the bible are also adhered to? There's a lot of stuff in the bible that isn't followed, including keeping women having their periods away from everyone else. Or does each church pick and choose what to follow? That would be the question I'd ask the board when deciding this issue.

Of course you know the Church does not, or does anyone follows every single teaching. But most do their best. Many were made for the time when written. You aren't the first to make that argument against Church teachings. You won't be the last.

 

[DisneyOma]

Of course you know the Church does not, or does anyone follows every single teaching. But most do their best. Many were made for the time when written. You aren't the first to make that argument against Church teachings. You won't be the last.

So churches go by the times - some of them at least. So the OP should check with the church involved and see if selling cookies after the service goes against whatever they've chosen to follow out of the bible.

 

[Skippy918]

That’s so funny, I feel the complete opposite. Reading this thread I was thinking, why can’t I just go to the website to buy cookies year round and have them delivered to my house? I used to be a scout, yet haven’t bought a box of Girl Scout cookies *ever* in my adult life because there’s no easy way to acquire them. 1) I don’t know any Girl Scouts. 2) I’m not going to buy from the one I-kinda-sorta-knew-you-in-elementary-school Facebook acquaintance that sells them on behalf of her daughter because she lives an hour and a half away. 3) I have occasionally seen them selling in front of stores but I don’t want to deal with buying from strangers and then having to coordinate a cookie pickup weeks later, or they might have the cookies on hand but I’m never carrying cash.

Something that overpriced and bad for my waistline needs to be an impulse purchase, and there’s no impulsive way for me to get my hands on Girl Scout cookies. Curses!

Most troops take credit cards these days. Booth sales have inventory on hand.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Most troops take credit cards these days. Booth sales have inventory on hand.

Good to know they take cards these days. The last time I saw a booth in front of the grocery store was so long ago I doubt they did at the time. I hardly even do grocery shopping in person anymore so I’m going to need them to start selling GS cookies on AmazonFresh!

 

[Summer2018]

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?

At our old church, the troop sold Girl Scout cookies during coffee hour. The cookies were delicious, and people felt like it was a good cause. Our youth group also sold stock as a fundraiser for the Appalachian Service Project. There were all sorts of fundraisers going on in the church. People had the choice whether or not to participate.

 

[Skippy918]

Good to know they take cards these days. The last time I saw a booth in front of the grocery store was so long ago I doubt they did at the time. I hardly even do grocery shopping in person anymore so I’m going to need them to start selling GS cookies on AmazonFresh!

We also sell in front of home improvement stores and home decor stores plus Walgreens and other restaurants.

 

[ronandannette]

At our old church, the troop sold Girl Scout cookies during coffee hour. The cookies were delicious, and people felt like it was a good cause. Our youth group also sold stock as a fundraiser for the Appalachian Service Project. There were all sorts of fundraisers going on in the church. People had the choice whether or not to participate.

I think it's a bit of an easier decision when the troop is actually a defacto part of the church and that other similar groups/ministries do sales for fundraising. Nothing wrong with it either way but the OP's situation is complicated by the fact that the troop just borrows the facilities and they're concerned about setting a precedent for something that's not already happening.

 

[usnuzuloose]

No way , I don't care what it is. Now I understand if you want to bake and sell stuff way different. It does not come from another company to sell. I used to donate to what ever it was that was made. I was at a church and left due to them wanting to sell bottled water.

 

[Kellykins1218]

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?

Why is it a "situation?" The scouts meet at the church. I assume this isn't some weird anti-cookie eating church? I don't understand why there is even a question about them setting up a table to sell there.

 

[dish rag]

Why is it a "situation?" The scouts meet at the church. I assume this isn't some weird anti-cookie eating church? I don't understand why there is even a question about them setting up a table to sell there.

As I mentioned previously, some Churches feel that it will take away from some weekly donations, people will decide at the last minuet to hold on to their donation to buy cookies or what ever else is being sold. Many large and finically successful Churches do not want item sold before or after services for this reason.

 

[dish rag]

So churches go by the times - some of them at least. So the OP should check with the church involved and see if selling cookies after the service goes against whatever they've chosen to follow out of the bible.

If it's that important to them well then they should. My guess would be most people don't care either way.

 

[wgeo]

As I mentioned previously, some Churches feel that it will take away from some weekly donations, people will decide at the last minuet to hold on to their donation to buy cookies or what ever else is being sold. Many large and finically successful Churches do not want item sold before or after services for this reason.

I have been very closely involved with many churches over my life. I have never heard of "large financially successful" churches or any church that matter not allowing a child to have a fundraiser at church. Sure they are always done in the fellowship/coffee hour and not actively in the sanctuary but that doesn't make a difference. Never once have I ever heard of a church being concerned that someone buying a $5 box of cookies would lower their weekly donations. Never once have I heard a church be so obsessed over their weekly donations that the issue would even come up.


The only time I have ever heard something in that ballpark is when the church itself has to do a large fundraiser - like 100k or more because they need to replace a roof or a boiler or plumbing or whatever. Sometimes they get concerned they are asking their members for too much money and that paying off the new roof may cause a dip in pledges to the operating budget that pays things like salaries/utilities etc. But selling cookies or wreathes or pies or wrapping paper? nah

 

[dish rag]

I have been very closely involved with many churches over my life. I have never heard of "large financially successful" churches or any church that matter not allowing a child to have a fundraiser at church. Sure they are always done in the fellowship/coffee hour and not actively in the sanctuary but that doesn't make a difference. Never once have I ever heard of a church being concerned that someone buying a $5 box of cookies would lower their weekly donations. Never once have I heard a church be so obsessed over their weekly donations that the issue would even come up.


The only time I have ever heard something in that ballpark is when the church itself has to do a large fundraiser - like 100k or more because they need to replace a roof or a boiler or plumbing or whatever. Sometimes they get concerned they are asking their members for too much money and that paying off the new roof may cause a dip in pledges to the operating budget that pays things like salaries/utilities etc. But selling cookies or wreathes or pies or wrapping paper? nah

You haven't heard of it, but I have and know it happens. $100,000 would not require a fundraiser in these places. Believe what you want. I know what I know.

 

[ronandannette]

I have been very closely involved with many churches over my life. I have never heard of "large financially successful" churches or any church that matter not allowing a child to have a fundraiser at church. Sure they are always done in the fellowship/coffee hour and not actively in the sanctuary but that doesn't make a difference. Never once have I ever heard of a church being concerned that someone buying a $5 box of cookies would lower their weekly donations. Never once have I heard a church be so obsessed over their weekly donations that the issue would even come up.


The only time I have ever heard something in that ballpark is when the church itself has to do a large fundraiser - like 100k or more because they need to replace a roof or a boiler or plumbing or whatever. Sometimes they get concerned they are asking their members for too much money and that paying off the new roof may cause a dip in pledges to the operating budget that pays things like salaries/utilities etc. But selling cookies or wreathes or pies or wrapping paper? nah

Absolutely. People who regularly give to their church do so based on certain principles and it has nothing to do with whatever else they might be spending their money on. It’s truly absurd to think a box of cookies would result in a “reallocation of giving”. It’s always interesting to hear how people who are (likely) not actively involved in church life perceive these things, up to and including the idea that being “financially successful” is an actual goal for churches.

 

[ronandannette]

You haven't heard of it, but I have and know it happens. $100,000 would not require a fundraiser in these places. Believe what you want. I know what I know.

How do you know? Is it like this at the church you attend? Granted, I’ve never attended what you may be referring to as a “financially successful” church, but I would be surprised if such a strategy, if it existed, would be widely known amongst the members. Have you participated in church governance where these things were decided and discussed? I would genuinely like to understand your seemingly off-base perception here and why you are so adamant about it.

 

[paisleys]

I don't go to church and I am to into Girl Scout cookies--but charging rent? Please. A lot of people might welcome the convenience of getting their GS cookies after service, and I'm sure the older folks enjoy seeing the kids. As long as the kids (MOMS) don't hard sell and make people feel guilty for not buying. I see this often at our grocery stores during GSC season and avoid Publix during non-school hours at all costs. Maybe have them set up further away from the doors so people can see them, but not be forced to go through the cookie gauntlet!

 

[ronandannette]

I don't go to church and I am to into Girl Scout cookies--but charging rent? Please. A lot of people might welcome the convenience of getting their GS cookies after service, and I'm sure the older folks enjoy seeing the kids. As long as the kids (MOMS) don't hard sell and make people feel guilty for not buying. I see this often at our grocery stores during GSC season and avoid Publix during non-school hours at all costs. Maybe have them set up further away from the doors so people can see them, but not be forced to go through the cookie gauntlet!

I don’t remember anybody talking about charging rent for the cookie table. The OP said this troop, which is not actually part of their church, uses their church facilities for meetings. (S)he was unsure whether or not there was any rent charged for that service.

 

[kirstenb1]

As I mentioned previously, some Churches feel that it will take away from some weekly donations, people will decide at the last minuet to hold on to their donation to buy cookies or what ever else is being sold. Many large and finically successful Churches do not want item sold before or after services for this reason.

Sounds like you're describing a televangelist- run mega church

 

[VandVsmama]

I don't think that setting up a table to sell Girl Scout cookies at a church is a good idea.