GBarton wrote:One special case example:
Although we can ask and encourage, there is no way to force anyone to submit for reimbursement.
As we are asking and encouraging, I think it is also an opportunity to teach correct principles. The fact is that Church policy requires members to submit expenses for reimbursement and prohibits members from providing materials or fees at their own expense. Although that is indeed true, it can sound rather harsh to kind, generous souls who are trying to help in any way they can.
However, Church policy definitely allows members who have received a reimbursement check to decide to donate it back to the Church. This scenario is explicitly mentioned on the
Outstanding Checks Report form, which says:
If the payee wants to donate the check back to the Church, have the payee endorse the check, fill out a donation slip, and follow normal donation procedures.
In the scenario of the sister who cannot make donations directly to the Church, this seems to be an opportunity for her to make charitable contributions without using her own money directly. She follows Church policy and submits her receipts for reimbursement. But then she endorses the check back to the ward and prepares a regular donation slip, selecting Fast Offering or General Missionary or Humanitarian Aid or some other charitable category, where the money can truly help those in need. If you take the opportunity to teach about this option, she may gain an understanding of how she can be even more helpful than she is now, without ever writing a check to the Church. Plus she helps the ward to understand the true cost of running the ward, and follows Church policy -- it's a win-win-win!
Questions that can benefit the larger community should be asked in a public forum, not a private message.