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St. Louis' Dazey Enterprises, Inc. The firm provides manuals of instruction, outlines for Sunday sermons on tithing and conscience-pricking bulletins for distribution at services (sample headline: HAVE BUDGETED YOURSELF AWAY FROM GOD?). All this leads up to "Intention Sunday," when parishioners make their pledges. Dazey's fee: $2.22 per wage earner in small parishes, $1.02 in large ones. Boasts President Harry Dazey, himself a tither: "We sell 95% of the pastors that we call on."
Some pastors play up the tithers' tax benefits: federal laws allow the taxpayer to deduct up to 30% of gross income as church charity. There are a few ministers who hint at even greater financial benefits. A classic example occasionally cited: Oilman Charles Page, who when down on his luck was told by a Salvation Army lassie that he would prosper if he tithed. Starting by giving her 15¢ out of his last dollar, Page promised to tithe, eventually struck oil. "I couldn't miss," he used to say after he had made his pile. "I was in partnership with the Big Fellow—and he made geology." "Some successful businessmen make a great point of telling how their success dated from the time they took God in with them as a partner." complains California Methodist Dr. Grover Bagby. "To this blasphemous idea it would almost seem in order to make an equally blasphemous reply: 'What a break for God.' "
The Need to Give. More often, ministers and priests who seek to promote tithing emphasize man's need to give, rather than God's need for cash. Tithing thus becomes an act of worship, expressing the giver's personal commitment to God. Says Dr. John Anschutz of Washington's Christ Episcopal Church Georgetown: "We emphasize not so much tithing as the convinced Christian's need to take a serious look at what stewardship really means: it is a definite commitment, a very real investment of one's time, talent and treasure. Tithing is a small proportion of this overall investment."
"Tithers suddenly become concerned about people," says Episcopal Canon Richard Williams of Seattle. "The best tithing parishes are the softest touch for the traveling missionary." Sums up Dr. John Haldeman of Miami's Allapattah Baptist Church: "Sharing in the Lord's work—and I mean contributing time, talents and effort as well as money—is the greatest means of overcoming selfishness. The Scripture says: 'For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.' "